Variable buoyancy lift



Jan. 9, 1951 A. J. I EvlN 2,537,143

, VARIABLE BUOYANCY LIFT Filed March l0, 1948 3Sheets-Sheet l Huf/.

107' TOR/VEK A. J. LEvlN 2,537,143

VARIABLE BUoYANcY LIFT Jan. 9, 1951 Filed March l0, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 9, 1951 Filed March l0, 1948 A. J. LEvlN VARIABLE BUOYANCY LIFT NIH 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 A, 'HBRAHAM J. Lev/N.

Paten-ted Jan. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE 2,537,143 VARIABLE BUYANCY LIFT Abraham J. Levin, Franklin, Mich. Application March 10, 1948, Serial No. 14,087

(Cl. 10S-56) 6 Claims. l

This invention relates to a means for producing a mechanical movement, and more particularly to a fluid mechanism rfor producing mechanical movements.

It is the principal objectv of this invention to provide structures adapted to utilize the reserve buoyance of objects partially or wholly immersed within a fluid.

It is the further object of this invention to provide a means for regulating and increasing such reserve buoyancy whereby the latter may be employed to do useful `work as in the transmission or transportation of uids from one point to another.

It is the further object of this invention to provide a novel construction for utilizing such reserve buoyancy as may be created to thereby provide an effective means of supplying fluid for irrigation purposes at points remote from the source of fluid.

It is the further object of this invention to provide means for creating or increasing the reserve buoyancy of a fluid container to thereby elevate the same relative to the source of fluid artificially creating a fluid pressure head which is available for any number of purposes, as for instance for use Yin supplying fluid for irrigation, or for hydro-dynamic purposes.

It is the still further object of this invention to provide a hollow or other construction adapted for immersion in a uid together with means for controlling and regulating the reserve buoyancy of said construction and thereby controlling up and down movements of said construction when immersed or partially immersed in a uid such as water.

These and many other objects will be seen from the following specifications and claims in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a partially diagrammatic elevational section of one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating the relative position of the elements under a change of conditions.

Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating the relaf tive position of the elements under a further change of conditions.

Figure 4 is a similar view illustrating the relative position of the elements under a further change of conditions.

Figure 5 is a similar view illustrating a slight variation of the present invention; and

Figure 6 is a similar view illustrating the relative position of the respective elements under a change of conditions.

It will be understood that the above drawings illustrate merely a preferable embodiment of the invention by way of illustration only, and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the claims hereafter set out.

Referring to the drawings a body of iiuid II such as water is shown within which is sub-v merged substantially the upright hollow cylindrical container or housing I2 which is preferably open at its opposite ends.

Fluid inlet pipe I3 with hand valve I4 is joined to housing I2 below the water level for communication with the interior thereof, whereby with said valve open the fluid I5 within housing I2 will assume the level of iluid II on the exterior of Vsaid housing.

A second vsubstantially hollow housing, I6 preferably open ended is coaxially positioned within housing I2, being submerged therein as shown in Figure V1 with its lower edge bearing upon the annular flange I1 which forms a part of housing I2.

Housing I6 is divided into compartments I8 and I9 by means of the intermediate partition 2li therein so that compartment I8 has substantially one-half the volume of compartment I9 by way of illustration.

Housing I6 which is adapted for vertical reciprocal movement within housing I2 has joined thereto the flexible conduit 2l whose inner end is suitably joined to the partition 20 in registry with opening 22 therethrough, providing uid communication at the lower end of and within compartment I=8 which forms the upper part of housing I6.

The other end of conduit 2I extends loosely thru the lower open end of compartment I9, and through a corresponding opening in the outer housing I2, 'with its outer end 23 joined'to the two-way valve 24, diagrammatically shown. Valve element 24 has a passage 25 therein whose outer end is adapted for communication either with the uid II or upon rotation thereof is adapted for communication with fluid delivery pipe 2S, for supplying fluid as for instance for purposes of irrigation, by way of illustration.

Two-way valve 24 is normally controlled manually or mechanically for providing fluid communication between delivery pipe 26 and the interior of compartment I'8, or on the other hand between compartment I 8 and the body of fluid I I. A second flexible pipe or conduit 2l with hand valve 28is adapted for connection at its outer end to a source of compressed air or other gaseous' Operation The operation of the above described apparatus is respectively 'shown in'Figures l, 2, 3, and 4, of the drawings, illustrating various relative positions of housings I6 and I2 under varying condi.- tions.

In Figure 1 valve I4 is open providing fluid communication to the interior compartment I5 of housing I2 whereby the fluid therein is at the same level as the body of fluidgJIf.; Atthe same time the two-way valve 24 is so adjusted as to provide uid communication between the bo'dy of fluid II and the interior of compartment I 8 in Vhousing 16, s'o that the latter is"' completely submerged within the fluid ir'il'rou'sngl I 2, and with'hadvalve 28 preferably closed, o'r at least with'said conduit 21 disconnected Vfrom the source ofcompressed air r o'thr gas. t l A Asthefirststep-in the operation' of the "above apparatus'valve 24 li`s closed to e'iectively close off fluid'cmmunication thru conduit `2I, as illustratedjnfFi'guraZfl c 1T ."The hand;valve .2.8 is momentarily? opne'duprovidiirg=the inlet of'compressed air-into the lower compartment I9 of "housing I6-s 4:said "body of ir'being entrappedbelopartition 2.0, and designated byl the Vnumeral 30; Figure-f2, and which caseshousing I6 tofris'e Vupwardlyvvithin housing`I2 to thposit'ion'shown' inFilgure 2, andqwith th'e uidr within'rtle'uppercompartmenty I8 of housing I6 being elevated to the'p'osi'tioms'hwn. ;Thps anY articial'pressure-head "has been created for:,:tnis A,uuid-:with fhuing le and its partition `2Il .b eing supported. by' the entrapped cylndricaljbody'ofrcompressed'airu 3 fThe; introduction Vof compressed air into compartment I9 which is interposed between the fluidfjthereinand partitionl: is one means of :nitjlicially .creating vareserve buoyancy for the inne;r .;housing jlifcausingl the same to attain the upright, floating position within the body of fluid II, and more particularly within 'housing I2 Which'erves essentially as a guide therefor.

` nl'frigurel itis clearunder principles'of buoy-A y'that'theV combined weight of housing I6 and an thefluid in compartment I8 is in excess of the weightof;the;fiuidgdisplaced'byl container I5 lso sube tween.,compartrnent IBiand fluid delivery pipe 2B' by meanspf-:theinterconnecting conduit 2l DueA t-thepressure headqcreated itis s'eeng-that fluid frqmcompartrnent I8 will now vbe delivered thru pipef26 and is available for amultiple of uses, suchasforinstance thesupply ofwatey` for irrigation purposes,as well as for various hydrodynamlcfpurposesf. e f

As viewed in Fig. 3 approximately one-half of the fluid has been withdrawn from compartment I8 With result that the total weight of the remaining fluid therein and the Weight of housing I6 has decreased. As the compressed air 30 within compartment I9 is unchanged it is clear that the buoyant effect thereof will be increased due to the reduction of said combined weight, and housing I6 will move upwardly substantially to thevrelative'position shown in Fig 3.

Asthe fluidffcontinueshtoflow fro'rn 'pfrnpartment" I8 it is l's'enthat the 'combined iis/'eight of housing I6 and the uid within said compartment continually decreases thereby increasing: the buoyant 'effectiveness of the trapped compressed air 39, all the time causing a continual gradual upward movement of compartment I8. thereby 'maintaining a fluid head for any remaining fluid therein until all of said fluid has been delivered thru pipe 26, at which time housing I6 will @einen SbQWn nffis- 4.

i' vits,ariinal,gsteptowards completiontotffthe cycle of operationhandwalve 28 is opened permitting the escape of the 'entrapped air, 38.110 the atmosphere.- said. valve 8` being. S10. cgns'wtd, as ,to permit escape of said air inv one position ofad,- just'mentandto permit the introduction of cornpressed air thru pipe 21 when in a second. position of adjustment. E Witlithe air pocket 311, eliminated,V the inner housinglement I will dropto the, dotted line position indicateclin Fig. fl' so thatthe bottom of compartment J 8 .will Ibe, slightly,lelow...the sur,` face of fluid II. ,Y

With the two-way valve 24 .now turnedv to the position'shownin Fig. 1, fluid willflo-W therethru and thru conduit -2I and 4into compartment I8 causingthesameto be submerged asindicated in Fig. 1.l At this lpoint it is noted that compartment I8 has been refilled and it is onlyfnecessary to again create the reserve buoyancy above de-i scribed with' respect to housing; I6 -to-thereby cause its initial relative movement to the posi,-

tion shown inFig'. 2. -4 e l Thusv a satisfactory mechanism has been provided for lcreating anarticial water-,pressure head for the"delivery of Huid thru the pipe 25 for multiple purposes as for instance for irrigation, and; on theother hand the control of said' reserve buoyancy is 'effective for regulating the'movements of housing I6 relative to outer housing I2. A slight variation of the invention is shown in Figs. 5 and 6 in conjunction withY the relative positioning of the housing I2 and `I6 of1 Figs. l

. and 2f V.las shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the conduit 2I has been joined at its outer end to a two-way valve 24, which in one position thereof is in communic'ation with. fluid intakepipe I3 to housing In the initialoperation thev housings I2l andIG assume the'rel'ative' positions shown in Figs. l. and 2, it being noted in Fig. 2`that hand. Valve 24 has closed, oif the flow ofv fluid thru conduit 2I.- I

Fia .2 illustrates the relativ@ .elevatedrositw of housing I'o by virtue of the ler'itrap'ped,ilcnolurnn,

Ofempr-essedeir 3ft hqwever sendpm- I has fiv pemcinedio uuid 'intake piplel snitheimanuer illustrated in Fig. 5. gm 1... fr;

Whenthengfvvay:valveY 24"'i'4s'-opate'd 'to the position shownin Figurrthe fluid in compartment I8 isadaptedto flow therethrough and in tg the interior of housing l2 causing-the lattrmto fm with fluid, or cause the V"introduction of fluid thereinto effecting a rise in the fluid levelmin housing I2 above the lev'el 'of liquid II, whereby head. i

'f As'shew'n innig. 5, substantiauy one-hau 0f the fluid has Iiowed-thru'co'nduits 2| and I3 whereby the buoyant effect of the entrapped air 30 has been increased due to thedecrease in" weight of container I6 and the remaining fluid within compartment I8. Consequently housing IB will have moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 thereby maintaining or increasingY the iiuid pressure head'of the uid remaining in compartment I8 causing the same to continue to iiow outwardly thru pipes 2| and I3.

In the final stage shown in FigG the vapparatus has functioned so that all the fluid has been delivered from compartment I'Sout thrul the conduitsn 2| and I3,v at which' point the buoyantr effectiveness of the entrapped airV 3|) `is at its maximum, to maintain housing I6 atv its highest position. Throughout the delivery of iiuid from chamber I8 said fluid iiowilng thru conduits 2| and I 3 has increased the amount of fluid in hous-v ing I2 which may be used for' any number of purposes other than the mere overflow from the top of housing I2. Said additional iiuid will rise and be stored above the normal fluid level of Y housing I2 and may be delivered, if desired, thru valve 3| in outlet pipe 32.

j It is contemplated thaty the increased fluid within housing I2 will assist the upwardmove-- ment-off housing 6 ,if the same is permitted to accumulate within'housin'g I2.

4"Thus it is seen that the construction shown in 3B, and housing I5 will drop to the fragmentary,

dotted line position shown in Fig. 6, which it will be noted places the bottompartition wall part of compartment I8 slightly below the water level II. l

The two-way valve 2A Vmay now be adjusted to..p'rovide uid communication between said body of iiuid I I andconduit 2| so that uid will begin to flow back thru said conduit and into chamber I8 inasmuch as the fluid. level of the body of iiuid II is above the inlet opening 22 to said compartment; furthermore compartment I8 will gradually ll with fluid, yand as it does so housing IB will gradually become submerged to the relative position shown in Fig. 1 to complete the cycle of operation.

In connection with Figs. 4 and 6 it was explained that valves 28 are adapted to permit the escape of air 30 thru pipe 21. It may not be necessary to permit the escape of all the air 30, but just a suflicient amount as will permit the fall of container I5, with the remaining shortened column of air 3D being partially compressed.

It is contemplated that the compressed air which is permitted to escape may be utilized, if desired, for a useful purpose.

Drain pipe 2| is shown as the preferred means for delivering fluid from compartment or chamber i8, Fig. 2, however it is contemplated that said fluid may be siphoned therefrom if desired.

As above described in the preferable embodiment herein a, source of co-mpressed air is employed to create a reserve buoyancy. It is contemplated however that other means may also quantity: of fluid may be' 4storedfu'nder a uid elevated above the normal level of fluid The above description of element I6 refers to` elements I8 and I9 as compartments. The claims set out hereinafter specify compartment I8 as` an upper supply chamber or an upper chamber.

with` compartment I9 being specified in said claims as the lower chamber.

vWhile said reserve buoyancy may be createdl by the operation of a weight and pulley, a lever,

or other mechanical means, as above referred to, it follows further that the release of said weight, pulley, lever or other mechanical means would correspond to theV release of air from` l. In combination, a hollow upright housingsubstantially immersed inl a iiuid body, a valve: means thereon providing fluid communication" with its interior, a second open-L'ended partitioned housing movable therein having an upper iiuid supply chamber and alo-wer chamber, a' compressed air supply conduit in communication with said lower chamber, valverneans in said conduit for controlling the now of compressed air to said lower chamber for entrapping a co1- umn'thereof within said'chamber to develop a" reserve buoyancy in said second housing, causing the same to rise in said nrst housingi, above the level of fluid therein creating a head for the fluid in said supply chamber,` a fluid conduit in communication at one end with the lower end said sup-ply chamber and with its outlet ex tending above said fluid body, and a two-way valve in said conduit normally providing for the delivery of iiuid through said "outlet from said supply chamber and adaptedv to' alternately establish fluid communication between said supplychamber and said iluid body.

2. In combination, an open-ended upright partitioned housing immersed in a fluid body and having an upper fluid supply chamber and a lower chamber, a compressed air supply conduit in communication with said lower chamber, valve means in said conduit controlling the iiow of air to said lower chamber for entrapping a column of air therein to develop al reserve buoyancy in said housing causing the same to rise in said uid above the level thereof and creating a head for the fluid in said supply chamber, a fluid conduit joined to said supply chamber, and having an outlet extending above said fluid body, and a two-way valve in said conduit normally providing for the delievery of fluid through said outlet from said supply chamber and adapted to alternately establish fluid communication between said supply chamber and said iiuid body.

3. In combination, an open-ended upright partitioned housing immersed in a fluid body and having an upper fluid supply chamber and a lower chamber, a compressed air supply conduit in communication with said lower chamber, valve means in said conduit for controlling the flow of air to said lower chamber for entrapping a column of air therein to develop a reserve buoyancy in said housing causing the same to rise in said uid above the level thereof and reference f creating aheadwfor theluid-'inl saidsupplychamgl ber, A,a iluidconduit 'joinedf to said supply'chamber=fand-havin`g an -outlet extending above said, fluidibodyga two-way valve in' this conduit nor-` mallyprovidingfory the delivery of uid throughV said outlet fromfsaid supply chamber and 'adapted to alternately establish 'huid-'communication between said supply chamber and said uid body',-

and upright guide means in said fluid body Within which said housing is axially movable.

4; Incombination, an open-ended upright partitioned housing immersed iin'A a iluid' body and having upp'erand lower chambers, a compressed air supply conduit linjcommunicati'on withv said lower chamber, valve means -in Asaid conduitV buoyancy increasing as fluid is withdrawn from its upper chamber and delivered through said outlet causing continued upward movement thereof to increase vthe head of the remaining fluid in' said upperchamber.

f 5. In combination, an open-ended upright partitioned housingl immersed in a fluid body and having upper and lower chambers, a compressed air supply conduit in communication with said lower chamber, valve means in said conduit controlling the flow of air thereto for entrapping a column of air therein to develop a reserve buoyancy in said housing causing the same to rise in said iiuid above its level and creating ahead of fluid in said upper chamber, a fluidl conduit joined to said upper chamber at one endwith its other end having an outlet positioned above said uid, and valve means in'said iiuid conduit for controllingthe delivery of fluid therethrough and adapted to alternately establish communication between said upper chamber and said iluid'body; said reserve buoyancy in- 8 creasing VAas 4'fluidis withdrawn from saidj upperchamber and delivered thru said outlet causing; continued upward movement thereof to increase the head 'of the remaining fluid in said upperl chamber, the valve means in said air conduit being adjustable to regulate thev escape of ain from said lower chamber decreasing said reserve buoyancy and causing said upper chamber to descend in said uid body.

6. In combination, an open-ended upright partitioned housing immersed Yin a uid' body and having upper and lower chambers,a compressed` air supply conduit in communication with said'- lower chamber, valve means in said conduit controlling the ow'of air thereto-'for'entrapping a column of air therein to develop a reserve buoyancy in said housing causing the same to rise in said uid above its level and creating a` head of iiuid in saiclupper4 chamber,A` a .fluid-con-4 duit joined to said-upper chamber at one end with its -other end having an outlet above lsaid nuid body, and valve means'in said-fluid conduit for controlling the delivery of uid therethrough,- said reserve buoyancy increasing as fluid is withdrawn from said upper chamber causing con- -tinued upward movement-thereof to increase the YREFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in :the file of this patent:

l UNITED lSTATES 'PA'mNTs Number Name Date u 298,990 Leedy. May 20, 1884 1,300,866 Pennington Apr. 15, 1919 Y FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country l Date Great 4Britain 1792 

